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For many Americans, airline security is an onerous and even excessive burden. But in remarks at a national security forum on Friday, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole illustrated why the federal government is still on high alert. Speaking in unusual detail, Pistole offered specifics about an underwear bomb devised by a master al Qaeda bomb-maker in Yemen meant to be exploded in an airliner over the United States last year. The plot was foiled thanks to a double-agent inside al Qaeda’s Yemen branch, in a case that has also become the subject of a controversial Justice Department leak investigation.

In an exchange with ABC News reporter Brian Ross at the 2013 Aspen Security Forum, Pistole described the bomb as “Underwear 2,” a successor to the underwear bomb worn Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to detonate on Northwest Flight 253 near Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. Abdulmutallab’s bomb fizzled, severely injuring his groin but no one else.

Pistole described the May 2012 bomb as “a next generation device” that was “new and improved in many respects” from the Christmas 2009 bomb. Designed by one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, Ibrahim al-Asiri, the device featured “a new type of explosive that we had never seen,” Pistole said. “All of our explosive detection equipment… wasn’t calibrated to detect that. And all of our 800 bomb-sniffing dogs had not been trained for that specific type.”

The use of a new explosive has been previously reported, but Pistole continued with less familiar details about Underwear 2 that reflect the growing sophistication of Asiri’s sinister craftsmanship. He said the device included redundancy, by mean of two different syringes to mix liquid explosive compounds–“a double initiation system,” apparently a response to a failure of Abdulmutallab’s initiation process. In essence, Pistole said, “they made two devices.”

Finally, Pistole said, the new bomb was encased in simple household caulk in an effort to trap vapors that might alert any bomb-sniffing machines or dogs that did happen to be capable of identifying the explosive.

“So you really have a twisted genius in Yemen,” Ross observed. “That is our greatest threat,” Pistole replied. “All the intel folks here [at the forum] know that is a clear and present danger.”

Pistole added that Asiri is thought to have trained other bomb-makers in his dark arts, and that count-terror officials are intensely focused on tracking down the mentor and his students.

In an interview after his remarks, Pistole said TSA has adjusted its bomb-sniffing defenses in response to Underwear 2: “They’ve been recalibrated.” But his concern about Asiri and his cohorts in Yemen endures. “They want to show that we can spend billions and billions of dollars,” Pistole told Ross, “and we still can’t stop them.”

Keep the fear going all you want TSA - many people are not buying it - this will backfire on those that profit from hatred and violence. The human race is evolving to a higher level of being where we will live in peace and prosperity. Join us - we are way more fun than searching peoples' underwear for bombs. The are thousands of things to do with our lives than looking for terror. We live on a beautiful, abundant planet. Let's enjoy it rather than ruin it for ourselves.

"In an interview after his remarks, Pistole said TSA has adjusted its
bomb-sniffing defenses in response to Underwear 2: “They’ve been
recalibrated.” But his concern about Asiri and his cohorts in Yemen
endures. “They want to show that we can spend billions and billions of
dollars,” Pistole told Ross, “and we still can’t stop them.”"

Isn't this the same tactic we used to cause the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Armies of TSA agents and DHS swat teams can not protect us when they are inappropriately obsessed with intimidation and control. Use these resource for more practical and effective protections. I almost said "common" sense but that would have seen as an insulted the ivy league types. They are too good for common.

We, the TSA, must now inspect granny's underwear because she is making bombs in her kitchen. She has even shown little Johnny how to wire his groin. They learned how to spell Yemen so they are definitely harden terrorists. Their stated desires to travel to see friends and relatives is just a carefully concocted ruse intended to misled the DHS, the TSA, and the public. They may even have radical racists thoughts that are not 100% supportive of Obamacare. They may not even know that Barack Obama was killed 35 years ago in Sanford Florida while eating Skittles and drinking Iced Tea.

When they say underwear 2, what do they have in store for us next because when they did the 1st underwear bummer we got the body scanners they wanted when they did 811 they got the patriot act etc... lord only knows what these terrorist have next for us

Dear Mr. Pistole, I've watched you lie before when it came to the backscatter x ray machines and other things. Now we hear of an "evil twisted genius" in Yemen. As an American citizen all my life, the son of a marine, the grandson of WW1 vet, and a descendent of a brave man on the Mayflower --- I have to say that rather than see you and Janet Napolitano's replacement (you want that job, I know) and our fascist leaders in DC destroy the country -- why don't you waste the "evil genius?" Obama has a drone fetish. Let him indulge it, or would you rather see a tragedy so that you'll be given free reign to search our body cavities? On the one hand destroy our nation by destroying its freedom and character (but empowering yourself) and on the other kill a man who is an enemy combatant and richly deserves to die. By the way, Pistole, is the "evil genius" a Baptist or a Catholic or a Jew? Well, I'll be... again it's a moslem. Keep them out of our country. You guys from Central Command are disgusting. You'll do anything and everything other than what needs to be done. Eventually, after you've destroyed the USA, you'll have to do these things anyway, though maybe by then you can get a job for the new UN WORLD CALIPHATE.

There is a small American company called Valley Forge Technologies that has an almost medical quality full body scanner called ODIN that could detect it as it will need wires and an ignition source. ODIN can even "see" breast and cavity bombs as well. I believe the technology is actually from Russia. Of coursed the TSA would rather use inferior ones made by companies in the good-ole-boy defense establishment.

Pistole's remarks are an unmitigated series of lies form the start. Brian Ross, being a "reporter" in the manufactured reality shows that pretend as "news media" are productions that are patently false. He knows it, they both know it. The FBI created and managed the hapless doped up moron Abdulmutallab...the EVEN ESCORTED HIM on the plane in complete contravention of the police state apparatus of body scanners and searches that passes for "keeping us safe" because "they"..."hate us for our freedoms"... It is utterly remarkable how uninformed most people are in America! Don't you people get it, yet? This entire production called the war on terror is the creation, not of some crazed Muslims, but of western intelligence agencies.

Pistole's remarks about the second generation bomber on the horizon are nothing more than a preview, a telegraphing of some event the FBI (as they did with the first "underwear bomber") is managing and preparing the actor for. Pistole knows his remarks are filled with lies and manufactured stories...Brian Ross is nothing more than game show host parading about as a "journalist" when in fact he KNOWS the facts are never spoken or investigated. Sickening and very sad that so many of our people are so ill-informed and/or apathetic...

So what if the 'Bomb Sniffing Dogs'
weren't trained for this new super-bomb chemical. The TSA doesn't let
its dogs get near Muslims anyway because doggies 'Offend The Muslim
Religion'. Or some such nonsense.

So as long as Muslim Terrorists don't
do anything really stupid, like disguise it as SOAP, they're home free.

Lets do Exactly What ISRAEL does. What in the world is wrong with PROFILING - Muslims would be subjected to MOST of the scrutiny - thereby making the system 100% more effective. Leave everyone else alone. In the effort to be PC. why are we targeting little girls and old ladies in wheel chairs ( thats simply foolish ) -- And secondly - we should have a swift and a certain execution of convicted terrorists

We've let the government become the mafia, extorting money from individuals and businesses to keep them safe and if you don't pay or resist in some other way, then you are put out of business or otherwise made to experience the full wrath via their thugs.

Since the beginning of time we've made up stories about the boogeyman, how he is always out to get you, and that you should be very afraid of the boogeyman, and here are all the ways the boogeyman can get you (just look at the popularity of the horror genre in film). While there is some truth to boogeymen being out to get you, the government's response to stories about the boogeyman now generally far, far exceeds the actual threat.

Let's have a serious talk. Your safety is as important to you as mine is to me, but it's getting a little stupid around here. We are all going to die someday no matter what. Should we put up with maniacs who want to search our intestines for bombs before every trip on an airplane? Here's a simple idea. Doctors Office Gowns. YOU CANNOT HIDE ANYTHING IN THEM!

Can anyone verify any story told by John Pistole? Is he our only source of information? So if he was making up his stories, would we know the difference?

Why can't we find Ibrahim al-Asiri? If we found him it would reduce the percieved need for body scanners and potentially save the US tax money. But, it would also mean less profits for Michael Chertoff.

"Attention:
New TSA procedures: All passengers are to have had their last meal 24
hrs. before security screening, if we cannot determine through passive
electronic scanning that you have a clear lower colon or if you are
female traveling during menses, you will be directed to go behind the
green privacy curtain. You will be directed to expose your anal and or
vaginal cavity and lean across a sterile counter so that a quick
colonoscope inspection can be done by an agent of your same sex. Female
passengers can expect and additional colposcope inspection.

All
TSA agents performing these non-passive screenings have had over 50
hours training under the direction of a proctologist and or a
gynecologist and have over 100 hrs in sensitivity training. We
understand the feelings of the traveling public and we regret that to
maintain security due to the recent "Mr.Bowel and Ms.Tami-pax bombers"
these screening procedures are unavoidable. Thank you for your
cooperation, and remember, if you see something, say something,..nice to
your TSA Agent"

It's far more insidious than justifying a bloated budget for Thousands Standing Around (doing nothing). It's designed to intimidate, to cow the public, to create sheeple that will submit to any outrageous invasion of privacy, all in the name of national security. This government, and their jack-booted thugs, fear the people, do not trust them and want to utterly control all aspects of their lives. This is a step in furtherance of that process.

Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy admitted in testimony that a US Intelligence Agency put the "under wear bomber" onto the plane. This is just another play for more money and to steal more of our rights.

@BobDee1 well, see.... it's because we're so intrinsically good and nice that we'd rather let a serial killer in our homes than say anything that be interpreted as offensive, see? that breach of political correctness (thought coercian) might indicate we haven't been properly reconstructed and that somehow the progressive reengineering of our brains is behind schedule. now please stop with your nasty thoughts. you probably think the Japanese bombed us at Pearl Harbor, don't you. Some of the pilots were Japanese, possibly -- and the planes were Japanese and the carriers they took off from -- but I understand their was possibly a chinese or korean national on board one of the ships and therefore it isn't really fair to say the Japanese did that, see. They only participated. It was a man-caused disaster -- that's what it was. Just what are you getting at with your hate speech? You should be investigated after TSA reads all your stuff. I'm sure Pistole is up for that.

@mmmilesll The last time I flew, they formed a gauntlet (about 10 of them) which passengers had to walk through to board the flight. There was no apparent reason for this other than to rate the size of their beer guts.

@BrianPettersenFalse flag terrorism to grab more of our rights. The surveillance state is in place now with the GIGANTIC Utah Data Center coming online and the Police/Enforcement State is coming along at a pace that should make everyone nervous. Pretty soon folks, we will have a Stasi surveillance/police-state in place. Don't believe it? What has been installed so far would make the old East German Stasi Government DROOL.